An Irish endemic species, until recently treated as a subspecies of Dactylorhiza majalis, but that species is now regarded as being absent from Ireland or Great Britain. Especially frequent near the south and west coasts; rare in the east of the island.
Found in damp conditions: dune slacks, wet pasture etc. The pink-purple flowers are produced in a dense spike and the leaves are usually, but not always, heavily spotted.
Photograph: Co Kerry, SW Ireland.
© Tom Ennis
Click photograph for larger image.